ALGEBRA 1 SYLLABUS 2019 - 2020

Instructor: Mrs. Alexandra Conti Email: avoinea@sjusd.org

Website: www.wghsconti.weebly.com Phone: 535-6330 Ext. 67705
Office Hours: Tutorial Wednesdays & Fridays 9:30 – 10:00 Room: Z-105
Textbook: Springboard® Algebra 1 Common Core Edition ©2016.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Overview Materials
Welcome to Algebra 1 with Mrs. Conti! In this course students learn
• Binder with dividers
to graph on the coordinate plane, solve linear equations and
• Binder paper or graph paper
inequalities, solve systems of equations in two variables, simplify and
• Pencils & erasers
calculate rational expressions, use radicals, solve quadratic equations
• Red pen for correcting work
and work on polynomials. As students gain understanding of subject
• Ruler or straightedge
matter, they will develop skills in critical thinking and problem
• Scientific calculator TI-30XII
solving.
• Highlighters (yellow is best)
• 4 whiteboard markers
Mathematical Practices
• Optional but recommended:
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
Post-it notes, index cards, pencil
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively
sharpener, & multi-colored pens
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
4. Model with mathematics
5. Use appropriate tools strategically Behavior Expectations
6. Attend to precision 1. POSITIVE: Respect EVERYONE at
7. Look for and make use of structure ALL times!
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning 2. PROMPT: Be on time and ready to
begin work prior to entering the
Sequence of Topics classroom
Unit 1: Equations & Inequalities 3. PREPARED: Show up with your
Unit 2: Linear Functions notebook, supplies & completed work
Unit 3: Extensions of Linear Concepts 4. PRODUCTIVE: Do your best work,
Unit 4: Exponents, Radicals, & Polynomials 100% of the time... NO EXCUSES!!
Unit 5: Quadratic Functions 5. PROACTIVE: Ask for help or
support when needed and make up all
SJUSD Grading Scale missed work and lessons.
There are three categories for grading in this class:
Classwork, Homework: 40% Remind.com Codes
Tests, Quizzes, Projects: 50% Text your class code to the
Final Exam: 10% number 81010:
Period 2: @ce46be
A+: 96 – 100% B+: 86 – 89% C+: 76 – 79% D+: 66 – 69%
Period 3: @7gfg9
A: 93 – 95% B: 83 – 88% C: 73 – 75% D: 63 – 65%
Period 6: @f8bafeh
A-: 90 – 92% B-: 80 – 82% C-: 70 – 72% D-: 60 – 62%
Download the Remind app on
F: below 60%
your phone if you’d like.

Grading Breakdown Tutoring & Help
Please attend tutorial on
Tests, Quizzes and Projects: Quizzes are generally 15 - 25 points each Wednesdays and Fridays if you
and occur several times each unit. Tests are generally 50-100 points each are struggling and need help.
and occur at the end of each unit. Pop quizzes occur randomly without There is also an abundance of
notice. Group quizzes occur 2 -3 per times a unit on the Embedded resources online on my class
Assessments. website to help you if you are not
making adequate progress.
Retakes: Students are allowed to retake a unit exam if their original I will have a group of AP Statistics
score is less than 70%. To be eligible for a retake, students must students that come in twice a
maintain an 80% or higher in the assignment category in Infinite Campus week to tutor, but you must sign
and they must make test corrections and fill out a Retake Request Form up ahead of time. Private tutoring
within one week of receiving their test back. Students may earn a is a good idea for students who
maximum of 70% on a test retake. There will be no retakes on minor consistently struggle in math.
quizzes.

Homework Center
Final Exam: The final exam will be given on the last day of class.
Please attend Homework Center
Students must be present. Students who have an F at the end of the
after school to get help from a
semester but can earn a 70% or higher on the final will earn a D- for the
Math teacher on your
semester.
assignments. Homework Center is
open daily for 1 hour after school
Classwork and Homework: Classwork consists of any activities done
and is located in the library. I will
during the class period. Homework is any assignment assigned to be
award extra credit to students
completed at home. Late homework is accepted for reduced credit
that attend Homework Center and
based on the number of days it is late.
obtain a signature from the
teachers in charge of the
Grading Rubric program.

Score Grade Mastery Level Interpretation of Score from Teacher & Student Perspectives
Teacher: Student has achieved the highest level of mastery of the concepts
Extremely assessed in this assignment.
10/10 A+
Advanced Student: I totally aced this and I fully know the material both procedurally
and conceptually! I can even teach this to others!
Teacher: Student has achieved an optimal level of mastery of the concepts
assessed in this assignment.
9/10 A Advanced Student: I understand what to do but I made a few simple or careless errors.
I fully understand my mistakes.
Teacher: Student understands the content, but may need to refine some of
their skills procedurally or conceptually. Student: I understand the concepts,
8/10 B Proficient but I will need to clarify a few minor details in order to achieve advanced
mastery.
Teacher: Student “generally” understands the concepts assessed, but is not
Basic yet proficient. Tutorial is recommended.
7/10 C
Understanding Student: I understand parts of the concepts, but I may need help applying
them.
Teacher: Student does not yet understand the concepts but has demonstrated
Developing effort and attempted every problem with evidence.
6/10 D
Understanding Student: I rely on my notes or someone to help me because I do not
understand what is going on.
5/10 F Incomplete Incomplete assignment, or unable to assess any of student’s understanding
0/10 F Missing Missing assignment (flagged in I.C.)
Absence Policy Discipline Policy
Disrespectful, defiant, and
(1) Homework: Homework is assigned every day or almost every day. inappropriate behavior will not be
Students are responsible for learning all missed lessons on their own tolerated. Teacher reserves the
time when they are absent. Please check Mrs. Conti’s unit binder or right to remove student from the
check with a math buddy for the missed work. Students must submit classroom if they are causing a
work that was due on the day they were absent the day they return to disruption or affecting other
class. Make up work is accepted for excused absences only. Please refer students’ learning.
to the school attendance policy. ANY MISSING WORK IS A ZERO. Consequences:
(1) Verbal Warning & Talk
(2) Quizzes/Tests: Students must make up missed tests and quizzes in
(2) Lunch Detention and Parent
tutorial within 2 days of their absence. Students are only allowed to make
phone call/email
up a quiz/test if they have an excused absence. Unexcused absences on
(3) Referral, Detention, and
quiz/test days will be marked a score of zero. No exceptions.
Parent Meeting

Tutorial Policy
Tutorial is designated for Algebra 1 students on Wednesday’s and Friday’s and students must sign up in
advance at https://wgtutorial.sjusd.org/students/. Students are expected to be productive during the entirety of
tutorial, meaning they must be working on Algebra 1 assignments, pre-readings, or making up tests and
quizzes from excused absences. Students may not use their cell phones, socialize with friends, or sleep in
tutorial. Students are welcome to work on current algebra assignments in pairs or groups, as well as tutor
each other. Please attend a different teacher’s class if you plan on working on non-math related assignments.

Appointments
If you need to make an appointment with me, please do so through email at avoinea@sjusd.org (not verbally - I
will not remember each student’s verbal requests). You must give me at least 24-48 hours email notice to see
me during lunch or before/after school. No exceptions. Please do not show up announced since I will usually
be busy preparing for my next class, making copies, answering emails, and meeting with parents or students
with appointments. I truly appreciate you respecting this rule & I thank you in advance.

Email Etiquette
• I will check my email between 7:30 – 2:30pm weekdays only. If you need help as mentioned above, please
make sure you email me at least 24 – 48 hours in advance of your appointment request.
• For example, if Joe needs help on a problem on Monday during lunch, he needs to email me by 2:30pm
Friday. If Joe needs help on Thursday before school, he needs to email me by 7:30am on Wednesday.
• Please email me from your
school email only. Your email
should include an appropriate
subject, formal salutation, be
worded professionally and
courteously, and include a
proper signature. You will be
treated with the same
respect.
Electronic Policy
Electronic devices of any type will not be permitted in the
classroom. Any inappropriate use of devices, including
playing games, texting, social media use, or any other
distractive actions, will lead to the device being confiscated
and the possibility of privileges being revoked. Parents will be
notified in the event of multiple offenses. If a student is using
their phone during class or tutorial, it will be returned at the
end of the period or day. If it happens again, it will be
confiscated and turned in to the Assistant Principal of
Discipline. Additional offenses will lead to a
parent/student/teacher meeting and phone held until parent
pick-up. To prevent such problems from occurring, students
will turn in their phones at the beginning of each class period
when they walk into the door. They may pick up their phones
at the end of the period.
Plagiarism/Cheating
Any form of cheating (plagiarism, copying, allowing
somebody to copy, etc.) is not tolerated and will result in the
following consequences:
(1) Whatever you are working on to be thrown away.
This includes quizzes and tests. If it is from another
class, the other teacher will be notified.
(2) The principal will be notified and a record of cheating
will be recorded in student records.
(3) A score of zero and a flag in Infinite Campus for “cheating”.
When you cheat, the only person you’re really hurting is yourself. Do the work & reap the benefits!
Food, Drink, and Bathroom Policy
FOOD & DRINK: In order to maintain a
clean learning environment, no food or
drink is allowed during class except for
water. No Starbucks drinks, sodas, or any
sweet/sticky drinks because every year
there have been multiple instances of spills
that result in unsanitary sticky carpets,
tables, and seats. NO EXCEPTIONS.
BATHROOM: Students should go to the
bathroom before class begins. Students
should avoid going to the bathroom during
warm ups, lecture/notes, class activities, and
group discussions. Students may go to the
bathroom during independent work time
and must ask the teacher for permission.
The student must use their allotted
“bathroom passes” (give to Mrs. Conti),
then grab the bathroom pass by the door
and sign out & back in on the posted sheet.
Students should not be gone longer than 5
minutes or privileges may be revoked at the
teacher’s discretion.

Always Remember…
If someone or something in class is stopping you from succeeding, please come and see me immediately. I
will do everything in my power to fix the situation. We are all here to learn and help each other succeed.

Resources to help you be Successful in Algebra 1

• Homework Center: open daily in the library after school (and you get extra credit!)
• Tutorial: come on Wednesdays and Fridays 9:30 – 10:00 with questions!
• Mrs. Conti’s Class website: www.wghsconti.weebly.com
• Desmos Online Grapher: www.desmos.com/calculator
• Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra-home
• Kuta Math Worksheets: www.kutasoftware.com/free.html
• Youtube has a ton of awesome videos! Just look up the name of the topic.
• Springboard textbook has a bunch of extra practice problems at the end of each lesson titled “Lesson
Practice 1-1”, etc.
Dear Students & Parents,

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year at Willow Glen High School! I am very excited to be teaching
your student Algebra 1 this year. I would like to see each of my students be successful and
confident in this math class, and I am looking forward to working with you to make this happen. I will
be utilizing explicit direct instruction, collaborative group work, classroom data collection activities,
class discussions, calculator and computer technology, and the flipped classroom model to provide
your student with a quality educational experience in this course.

Algebra 1 is a high school and I expect students to be accountable for their learning at all times.
Please ensure that your student completes homework with utmost quality, and seeks my support
when they need help as these are all vital to their success on tests, quizzes, and the final exam. I
expect all students to communicate to me ahead of time if they are not making progress or need
my support. There are no exceptions for any of the rules stated in the syllabus.

Students: My goal for this year is to help you be successful, confident, and independent thinkers.
Although this course may not be easy, I believe that all of you can succeed. Please come to me
with any questions that you have so that we can make your learning experience as constructive as
possible. I care about each of you and your learning, and will do everything in my power to support
you this school year. Please don’t hesitate to talk to me if you are struggling – that’s what I’m here
for!

Parents: I value your partnership and I welcome you to reach out to me at avoinea@sjusd.org
(tentative to change) with any questions or concerns about your child. It is my aim to help your
student succeed and reach his/her highest potential in this course. With that being said, this is a high
school course and I expect your child to be responsible for his or her own learning in my course.
Although parent involvement is sometimes necessary, I believe that students should be training
themselves for the real world and learn how to become independent in preparation for college and
beyond. Please encourage your child to advocate for themselves if they are struggling. I am here to
support them.

Kind Regards,

Mrs. Alexandra Conti, MA. Ed.

Mathematics Teacher
www.wghsconti.weebly.com
 Algebra 1 Syllabus Signatures

Parents and Students

Please read the syllabus and sign/detach this form and return to Mrs. Conti.
Students, please keep the syllabus packet in your Algebra 1 binder & refer to it for information as necessary.

I have read through the entire contents of this syllabus. I understand and accept the policies and procedures regarding
this Algebra I class. By signing the line below, we signify our understanding of what is expected in class and agree
that the policies are designed to promote the best learning atmosphere, develop responsibility in the student, and
ensure an environment where everyone has the opportunity to be the best that he/she can be.

Student Name (printed): ______________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Student Signature: ___________________________________________________ Period: _______________________

Dear student, is there anything you’d like to share with me about yourself so that I may support you better this
year?

Parent/Guardian Name (printed): ____________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _______________________

Parent Email: _____________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________

Dear parent, is there anything I should know about your child that will help me support them better in Algebra 1?

Classroom Donations for the following basic supplies are always greatly appreciated. Thank you in
advance.
o Nose Tissues (I personally buy Kleenex from Costco for my students, but we run out so fast).
o Spare calculators (many students cannot afford to buy their own & we have a limited class supply).
o Whiteboard Markers (students need these for participation & their markers oftentimes dry out quickly).
o Extra Pencils/erasers, coloring pencils, binder paper, highlighters, folders, binders, colored markers, glue
sticks, mini scissors, rulers, whiteboard markers, anything helps!
o Disinfecting wipes to clean tables to prevent the spread of colds and flu during Flu season